Portrait of a Lady in Black 1919

George Henry's "Portrait of a Lady in Black" is all about the artist capturing something that's shimmering just beneath the surface. Looking at it now, I imagine Henry starting with these subdued tones, building layer upon layer to evoke the character of this lady. The painting isn't just a likeness; it feels like a collaborative act of bringing a person into being. See how the beads and the trim of the lady's garment catch the light. It's like he's using that sparkle to animate her, you know? To show the viewer what she’s really like, not just what she looks like. Henry must have known that portraits can do more than just record someone's appearance. They’re like a conversation between the artist and the sitter, and then, between the painting and us. Artists, we're all just building on each other's work, remixing the past to make something new. And that's the joy of painting, right? Always chasing after something just out of reach.